Bachelor and Master Theses

Problem description: 

While theoretical research has explored the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to enable circular business models (CBMs) in manufacturing industries, there is a limited understanding of how these theoretical insights are realized in practice. The disconnect between theoretical frameworks and their practical applications creates a challenge in understanding the practical feasibility, benefits, and barriers of AI-driven CBMs. As a result, it is necessary to investigate how industrial practitioners perceive, implement, and experience the integration of AI in CBMs and to compare these findings with established theoretical concepts. 

Overall objective: 

The objective of this study is to bridge the gap between theory and practice by empirically examining the role of AI in developing and implementing circular business models in the manufacturing sector. Building on the theoretical framework developed by students last year and updated by you, this study aims to understand how these theoretical principles align or diverge from real-world practices within manufacturing and AI companies, identify challenges and enablers faced by practitioners, and provide recommendations for more effective implementation of AI in CBMs. 

Research questions: 

• How do manufacturing companies apply AI to enable circular business models in practice? 
• To what extent do practical applications of AI in CBMs align with or differ from theoretical findings? 
• What are the key enablers and challenges industrial practitioners experience when integrating AI into CBMs? 
• How can theoretical frameworks be refined to better reflect the realities of AI-driven circular business models in practice? 

Research group 

This thesis work will be part of the research group DigiCircle (Digital and Circular Industrial Services). The group is currently leading research projects on battery circularity, digital and circular business models with more than 10 industrial companies, public funded companies, municipalities, and industrial clusters. Your thesis work will be used as a knowledge development as part of the group and will be used in the relevant courses, projects or publications.